Donington Park appears to be on the brink of losing the right to host the British Grand Prix after Bernie Ecclestone admitted he could not see how the circuit would complete its multi-million pound revamp in time for next June's race.
Amid reports that the Leicestershire track had missed an extended deadline to prove to Ecclestone that it had secured the financial backing required for the project, the Formula 1 ringmaster hinted that Donington's time was now up.
Limited progress has been made on the huge rebuild Donington must undertake to bring the track's safety, paddock and access facilities up to F1 standards, and Ecclestone does not see how the work will be finished in time even if track boss Simon Gillett pulls off the funding deals.
"It's not good, is it?" Ecclestone told The Times.
"Even if they get the money, I cannot see how it will all be ready in time to go.
"It is very disappointing because we thought it would happen, but they cannot go on missing deadlines.
"They could still come to us saying they have the money, but there is no way the circuit would be ready at this late stage.
It looks as though we will have to start planning again."
Although Ecclestone had initially said that Britain would lose its F1 race if Donington did not deliver, he has since hinted that Silverstone will get a reprieve after all and be allowed to retain the race in Donington's absence.